I wrote an article a few days ago on my sit down talk with Tony Fitzpatrick about his new series of work and the new show “This Train” that is appearing at The Steppenwolf theater. At the time I really wanted to have some video to go along with the post and now we do. Below is an exert from the performance which shows July 15 – August 1, 2010, enjoy.

The RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) based in London has issued some of it’s speeches as animated illustrations which are interesting to see and critically look/think about the ideas being presented.

The Guggenheim as of this past Monday has begun accepting submissions for a video art exhibition in October that will be at all of the foundationâ€™s museums: the Solomon R. Guggenheim in New York, the Deutsche Guggenheim in Berlin, the Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice.

The catch is they want all submissions via Youtube.

The plan titled “YouTube Play” is planned on being a Â biennial event to discoverÂ innovativeÂ work outside of the contemporary art track. Deadline for submissions is July 31st and will go before the Guggenheim curatorial staff. Submissions will be trimed to 200 from which 20 will be chosen via a jury of diverse disciplines.

The final 20 will then go on simultaneous view at all the Guggenheim museums. The 200 will be promoted on the YouTube Play channel.

All in all this will help bump the visability of Â the Guggenheim, give Youtube some cultural cachet and remotely possible, court the Guggenheim some atypical advertisers which are becoming more and more sought after players.

There is concern from various sections that this type of potpourri art that is only good for a short time and then tossed out, doesn’t build a common voice in the greater art discussion, doesn’t build artists andÂ allowÂ them to grow and doesn’t give institutions any foundation for future work. As much as I am more egalitarianÂ on this subject then many I whole heartedly agree that it’s just junk food.

I agree with the Guggenheim’s response that if this was the only thing they did it would be an issue but it isn’t and honestly this is better then a motorcycle exhibit potentially in the long term.

I still think largely the issue that is the elephant in the room is the general populace is caring less and less and the numbers on multiple fronts reflect that and even pandering doesn’t work.

This Youtube Play is little more then a American Idol, Art/Design Star attempt on a zero budget and maybe something good will come out of it? I am still interested more so to see what MOCA will produce in the months to come. I feel that is the most intelligent and serious test case for this debate in play.

I don’t see institutions solving this problem, nor more focus on curatorial practicesÂ sadly. We are at a back to basics issue in my mind and the first group of banded artists that can properly create remotely unified work that speaks to the general public on a regional level while having some teeth and is smartly marketed will be the spark that can get things rolling again on a mass level.

I almost caught a glimpse of that in 2008 with the election, the general public seemed toÂ rememberÂ the power of the visual image and joyfully get caught up in it. I would love for something other then politics or sex to do that but it’s still interesting.

If you have been following the ongoing drama that is the BP Spill “junk shot” & “top kill” are well know terms. As well as Kevin Costner and his little known investment of 15 years and over $20 Million to create in short a Britta Oil Filter Pump which BP just yesterday said they might try, over a month after first talks. Then there is President Obama recent statement about BP’s chief executive Tony Hayward: “If he worked for me I’d sack him.”.

Which has followed most recently in BP expressing concern that the British run company which was responsible for over 97% of the industries flagrant violations is now being targeted for attacks and anti-British sentiment. A statement echoed by British Prime Minister David Cameron who warned Obama not to undermine BP’s economic value.

So in short it’s a comedy of errors without equal in some time and now there is a sketch to put that aspect into perspective. Hey! it’s either this British tragedy or a video about the other one no one wants to see anymore

I have always loved anything that mixes the timeless with the now (explains Moby a lot I guess, who had a great show at the Vic last September) and while talking to a archeology friend the other day about their favorite cultural artifacts & activities she brought up the New ZealandÂ All Blacks Rugby team’s tradition of performing the Haka before every match.

If you have never seen it, this is one of those bucket list kind of things to see live. As if New Zealand needed more tourism reasons. If it’s too violent for anyone there is a sweeter version to be had as well.